EMAS
Eco Management and Audit Scheme in Schools
 |
Contribution to sustainable development and people’s quality of life:
Within schools pupils are learning about environmental issues such as saving energy, conserving water, reducing waste and protecting wildlife. EMAS aims to reduce a school's environmental impact at every level, through involving the whole school community. It also ensures that relevant environmental legislation is complied with and management systems are in place.
Organisation: Managed by Environ and supported by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Leicester City Council
Sector: Public/Voluntary/Partnership
Location: Leicester City
Start Date and Duration: Started in 2002 and is ongoing
Summary: Aims to make schools more environmentally friendly at every level. From the pupils to the head teacher, everyone works towards improving the school's policies on recycling, saving energy, conserving water and protecting wildlife. Schools initiate an environment audit and then pupils and teachers work together to develop an action plan to reduce their impact on the planet.
Background: EMAS, originally developed for businesses in 1995, had never been applied to schools in the UK before Environ and Leicester City Council began working together with support from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). As part of Leicester City Council's drive towards making its services EMAS verified, this project is key to the Council's two most important priorities for the future - improving education and our environment. Environ have been working in environmental education for over 15 years and presently manage EMAS in Leicester and Eco Schools in Leicestershire.
Project results: So far 18 schools have become EMAS verified. A further NRF grant of more than £200,000 will now allow another 32 schools to work towards this green goal over the next two years. The environmental impact of the schools is reduced and they are able to put their resources to better use and cut costs. Children have gained a new understanding of the environment and been inspired to reduce their own impacts.
Keywords: EMAS, schools, environment, energy, recycling, education
Contact Details:
Charlie Lewis
Environ
Parkfield
Western Park
Leicester
LE3 6HX
Tel: 0116 222 1596
Email: clewis@environ.org.uk
Last updated: 29th January 2008